Shower-bath protector



Nov. 13, 1928.

w.A l..` DEMING SHOWER BATH PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 151,y 1927 NumtelPatented Nov. 13, 1928.

.UNITED su PATENT; omics.-

l .WILLIAM LTDEMING, oF SALEM, 01110.

SHOWER-BATH PROTECTOR.

appii'caaon inea December' 31,1927. seal Nt. aliassa` This inventionrelatesto` a shower bath chamber curtain and thep'riniary objectifsk toprovide "a curtain support "which Will yciiectively 'co'operate Withthecurtain in prevent-v ingY the escape ol Water frein theshower chamberpropen A further object isto pirovide a device inclndingfslidablefastening niean's at two oppositeen'ds `of a curtain, `in

which the Various elements vare so associated Ythat the curtain mayeasily manipulated to A open and closeit `Witl'ioutbindung' at theiastening nieans.l n i u l Inmodern hotel and apartment buildings theshower bath'ls usually made an adpi'nct :oi a bathroonrproper byplacingv the shower "appliances (spray Water feed controlaetc.)

in a recess or chamber openingl int-ofthe bathl rconi and adapted tobeatleastpartially shut oil from such rooin, when in use, by Ineansof acurtain suspended froina rail,` lSuch an ar-` ranoenient is onlypartially eli'ectite inpre-` venting Water troni splashing out ofthefreM cess or chamber, because'there is usually no provision WhateverAfor securing the curtain its bottoni edge and in c `n`isequence,`nfateris splashed out onto the adjoining floorwh'ere it occasionsobvious annoyancel'll believe` that one reason no adequate provision hasheretoforeA been niad'e toprevent `the obje/etionablo escape of Waterrorn the shower is because no 4fastening);- ineanshasdneen foiind whichWill' perinit the curtain to be veasily moved to open and Closedposition7 yet Vwhich will not considerablyobstrnct Lthe passage'Way intoand out oit the chamber. c

Obviously the `'use of: therail `and slidinrej` ring arrangementcommonly used'at the top of such curtains Would'be 'very inconvenient ybecause onewould not onlyfhfarve to step oVefrf such rail in enteringand leaving; the chani- Iberybut such construction would notuaffordjsutlicient obstruction to `water splash because the rail Wouldfhare tobe spacedfabotjfe the ioor to allow "free increment 'of the 'ringsly lThere is a i'u'rthi" `pro`ble`1n fto overcome in attaching' a curl in atboth ends, Vwhich arises because the cnitain is `flexible and llinip,`Wherefore sn'nply shovingl on the edge) ofthe curtain intermediate itsattached ends Wouldw ordinarily cause the `fasteningr nien'ibers toibind against the rails because snchshoving `maybe suspended frio theshower chaniber. y i The device shown ,1n the drawings consists kof thensualupp'er rail from which the cnr-f tain is suspendedas rings', and faremorf able bottone rail providing" afslidew'awhichu slidew'ay isengaged by a plulalityof rigid` and slidableksecuringiinengbe'rs'attaclied td theV curtain at Variousjpointsnear its bottom edge, andthere are stitfening bars .provided at the vertical edges of thecurtain. A fur;

Vther raffinement consists in the provision ofv brackets4 forholdingrthe lower rail, `whichV bracketsniay beeasi'ly fastened to theWallsy of the chanibereither atthetirne thexbnilding' is constructed orafterwardgas for installation in already existing buildings; vthisrefinement affordingr a quick/and eafsyineans for detaching the curtainwhen it is desired toy re'niove and clean orreplace it.`

Inthe. drawing, Fig. lois 4a sectionalside elevation o a shover bathchamber With the curtain arrangement, etc. forining the subject matterof theprese'i'i't invention; Fig. 2

is" a detailed vlongitudinal sectional `view through the bottom railand; showing the ineansfor'attachment of the rail toa Wall;l `Flg 1s asectional View taken atright angles yto'Fhigfl asindicated by the' 'line3--3 on Figa,

l; Fig. L tfis al detailed cross-sectionalView as indicated by the lineI4r-4- onv Fig. 2, and

5 is a Across" section'alfdetail `ifiewas indicatedby the line on Figi.

Referring in detail vtothe drawing, land 2 designate sideWallswolnachamber ory recess sistirrg,A for cnarnpldcffaspray nozzle 3,and

5 a nixilig. Valve L for controllingthe supplyf and teinperatureof`Waterto thenozzle.y 5

indicates the `loorjof rthe recess; Suspended across from one side Wall`to the other isa rall` 6 held in place asbyv brackets 7. The curtainnii-@Cay bel-0W the lmiie and @Sangiupon rn the rail 6 as by meansicontainniglr the showerwbath appliancearonthe floor, I show a tubularrail which is a longitudinal rib 19 on the strip 16 and pressi sustainconsiderable weight; hence, there is little dangervofthe sheet metal.being bentv by brackets 45, each having an overlia'nging arm ing flatagainst the strip abovev the surfaces 18. The mutually engaging ribsprevent the rubber strip from slipping' Ysidewise with reference to therail. Means to be lateiydef scribedii'iaintain vertical pressureon thetstrip.v AThe rail is adapted to be formedof sheet metal, the bottomportionhaving con-fl tiguoiis therewith side walls 23, each of which'ris folded inwardly as at 24 to provide" a.y

smooth slot 28 at the top ofthe rail, the inwardly' folded edge portions25diverging as shown to provide overhangiug surfaces adJacent the slotand being; of such llength as toy rest on tl'ierbottomineinber 2O andserve asY vertical 'reinforcements lii'or the rail. The arrangement inthe proportions shown will a person standing onthe rail.

The curtain@ as shown extends downwardthe rail. Near thebottom edge ofthe curtain as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are secured, a series4 ofsubstantially rigid hook-like members 80,

the hooked. portions lrbeing attached las yby means of stitching` orsmall. staples 32, one at reach side of the hook.v At the lower end ofeach member 30 is a knob 34 lying within the coniinesof the inwardlyfolded edges k25 of the rail and retained against outward. movement byreason of the relative sizeof the knobs and the slot 28. Ther knobs aresubstantially sphericalat the top in order to presentsinooth surfaces tothe rail members rigidity ofthe lliooksSO, and the two-point attachmentthereof to the curtain, tlierewill" be no tendency for the hooks 8O to.become displaced in such manner as to stick and not move freely alongtherail., f

My preferred means for securing' thev rail 15 in place consists of apair ofA Lshaped 47 positioned above respective ,ends` of the rail.These brackets may be secured to the wall of the chamber o rgrecess inany coiiven-` ientr manner, but preferably by means ofr ing. As showniii Fig. 2 a machine screw 50 is shown as extending throughan opening 5lbracket, in threaded engagement with the voverhanging arm of thebracket, and having a 'reduced end 53 closely fitting the slot 28 andbearingagainst the rib 21. When both screws 'are tightened in place, thereduced ends 53 force therubber strip16 tightly `against the floor,while .the lat-eral engagement between the reduced ends and the slotprevent sidewise movement of the rail.v

lVhenevei it is desired to remove the cuii tiin,as in order to clean orreplace it, the pro-` cedure is rto loosen one of the screws 52 until itis disengaged from the rail, then remove the i'ailsidewise from beneaththe overhanging arm of the bracket, and finally Slide the.` curtainsecuring members 30 lout of one end of the slot 28. Infdoing this, it isordinarily necessary to raisefbut one of the screws 52, since the endclearance between the rail and brackety may be such vas topermit one endof the rail to be swung out of engagement .with a bracket,.therebypermitting the rail to be slid off the'otherscrew end 53, without raisyf ing this screw.- ly beyond thef sides of the rail 15 asat C, Fig. 3,in order to deflect shower waterl away from Ordinarily, Awhen a curtainis attached at 'both ends. any shoving onthe edge of the curkhaveprovidedkthe vertical edge reinforcing or stiffening members above'mentioned ;These are preferably associated withboth vertical edgesofthe curtain as sliownat 60.

-'Ilie,ii'ie'mbers 60 may comprise sheet metal strips formed as shown inFig. 5 with a tubular bead 62 at one side adjacentthe substantiallyfiat'bodyportion 6.1. i

To secure thesereiiiforcing n 'embers to the curtaiinl preferably employdevices simify lar to glove fasteners, the female elements 63 ofv thefasteners being secured to the flat portions 61 of the members GOandthemale,

velements 65'to the. curtain. rlvhe female element of each fastener maycomprise the usual A sheet metal eyelet (seeFig. 5) having aV wirespring 64incorporated inits construction for engaging a grove 66 onjthemale fastener elei'nent.l In oi'der that the reinforcing mem- Y, bers6() may be formed exactly alike, thereby y `Aminimizing production cost.`while permit- .material topieventthe ferrules 'from turnting themembers to be secured to thecurtaiii with the tubular portions 63adjacent the re-l spec-tive edges ofthe `curtain in each case; theeyeletsare formedto receive the .projections 65 fromeitlier side Inother ivords,

the arrangement ypernjiitsthe projections 65 to male members of the snapfasteners. In` such oase simple openings in the fiat portions 6l themembers 60 would be used inplace of the eyelet construction illustrated.

. 'In order to direct the shower Water splash` inwardly towardtheinterior of the shower chamber atthe vertical edges ofthe curtainenough margin of curtain extends beyond `the members GOto be against theadjacent Wall of the shower recess or chamber when the members 60 arebrought tov curtain closing position, (see Fig. TheseI margins areindicated at Cf andC and aregiven Va tendency to curlr inwardly (towardthe in terior of the chamber) by reason of the tub'uf lar portions 62 ofthe members 60, Fig. 5).

It is obviously desirable to Yprovide for maintaining oneof the'verticaledgesfofthe curtain in closed position at all time, I` have shown asimple device tov` elifectthis, which will permit eitherV edge to bemoved t0 Open the passage into the shower chamber. This f is especiallydesirable since the curtain installationl may thus be the same for everyshower chamber ofa given size Without regard to the position of theshower apparatus. IVith the shover apparatusplaced asshown in Fig. lwith reference'to the chamber, it i 'will be more desirable to open thecurtain at its left-li and edge, always leavingthe cur tain secured atthe other .vertical edgeg' Ify the shower apparatus livereV located onthe opposite wall it Would"tlie1ibe better to open` the curtain at therightehand edge leaving the left-hand edge secured. rI "liisisbecau'sinv in the ma] ority of instances the user will not take thetrouble to fasten the edge3of-,`theV curtain past which he enters the4chamber.

even though a convenient fastening means provided, and because thatedgeshould left secured which, if unsecured, Would'ordinarily permit theescape of shower Water.

Vith the above in view I have rovided a f simple means associated withthe reinforcing member 60 to effectv retention of either edge of thecurtain. The upper ends `of therein forcing members 60 carry clasp'ringsl0"e"X-/ tending through openingsin' the {iatportions Vofthemenibers 60 as showni'n Iig. VNear the ends the ul'aperrailor'curta'insupportf ing rod 6 are shown recesses" 67 and 67' which theclas) rings lO mafeneaffe ivhe'ii rthe `1 P) li i,

members 60 are adjacent the shower, cham-l (see berwall; `forexample,asat the right in Fig."`

l. Supported Vby the lower end of each memvv ber 60,as bya` curled-overportion 68 of the sheet*metal,. I have shown a member 30', sub`stantiallylA likethe hook members 30. The primary function of themembers 30 isto `provide sliding engagement between of; the curtainI soheld cannot` be displaced L fronr the vchamber Walluntil the ring israised; hence, by the arrangement described, the curtain may be securelyfastened atyone odge-:to the chamber Wall, Whilethe other edgemaybetemporarily retained, While the shower is,occupied, simply by theengage-r mentr between the corresponding clasp ring 10r and4 the :recess1671er 67. the shower Wishes more privacy than this will afford, he may,,off course, see that Vboth rings 7() are in overlapping relation` tothe y respective screivlieads.

{Claim-r* 1 p 1..In combinatioinan upper and lower rail, a curtaimspacedmeans `at the upper and lower edges of the curtain insliding' engagementWith respective rails, andrigid means reinforcing one edge of thecurtain and arranged to impart `movement to the spaced means When`manipulated to move the curtain to thereby prevent binding betweenysaid' means and the rails. .i 25 In a device `of theclass described,apair" 'of' railsoneabove the otherand adapted to' support aieXiblecurtain, means connecting the 'curtain Witheach rail, said meansbeing slidably4 guided and retained by the rails, there beingvaxsubstantially rigid member` slidably engaging Vboth said rails and attially rigidinember `provided ivith `means `engaging the slideways, thismcn'iber being` attached Nto the curtain at or vertical edges.y o .v

4. IiiV combination, an upper and `a `lovver rail, aw'curtaiii movablysuspended frourth'e upper rail, a plurality of substantially rigidmembers each having a two pointattachment to the curtain, said members.beingv re near one of its.

tained yby `the'loiver rail and in sliding relatinnthereta v i 75;Inadevice of the class described,apair OfsubstaHtially parallel rails,`one mounted over th'eother, a plurality of sets of members vsecured to`the curtain, -each set shdably engagingarespective rail, theloxvcrrrall ha'v-` Ifthe user of l li) ing water sealing means on its`lower side, and means to force the first named means againstk .thelower edge of the curtain and having enlargements slidablyiiiterengagingwith the overhanging parts oi the rail, said curtainhaving its lower margin depending in overlapping relationto the rail todeflect water away from the rail ina given direction.

7. Curtain securing means for the bottom ol a dependingcurtain,comprising a rail, and means to attach the rail to abuildingadjacent thefloor thereof, including' means for forcing theraildownwardly, slidable means on the curtain and cooperating means ontherail tofslidably retain the irst named means, a eoii'ipressible stripunderlying the vrail throughout substantially its entire length,

and interengaging means comprising' a rib on one oic the lasttwomentioned elements, and a' giooif'eiii the oth-er to maintain therelationthe rail having an upwardly facing recess shipof saidlelements,l

8. yin a device of the class described, means for inovably'retaining thelower end o a curtain, comprising a tubular member having afy bottomwall and side walls` the lattei' being formed to provide a slot, meansonthe curtain engaging such slot, together with av cushion strip'indovetailed relation to the tubular meinbenand means adapted to besecuredto a vertical wall adjacent the floor of a building, andhaving removablemeans as sociated therewith arranged to enter the slot ,and pressdownwardly upon the bottom Wall or the tubular member to force theCushion strip tightly against the floor to torm a water seal.

9. A detachable. rail adapted to serve as a retainer tor the bottom or"a depending 'curtain, saidrail comprising a Atubular member having anupwardly facing slot, means slidy' ably engaging the slot' and attachedto the curtain, a bracket for securing the raillin place having aportion oveilianging the endv of thefrail, and removable means carriedby said portioiiand arrangedY to enter the slot ltof hold the rail inplace.` n y o l0. A retainer for acurtain, compri-sing a tubular member`'formed to provide a slot and overhanging surfaces inwardly from theslot.l a plurality of members attached to thefcurtain and arranged toslidev alongfsiich .slot and be retained by such overhanging .sun

races, and means for lioldiiig'tlie Vrail 'com-v prising a bracket, andremovable. means as-k .'sociated therewith having a portioiiadapted 'toentertthexslot to prevent# sidewise movement ofthe rail and to pressdownwardly on the rail to hold the rail against the'ioor yor anadjacentsurface v 11. In a' device of the class described, a sheet metal 'railAhaving a bottom portion and side walls curving toward each other andspaced apart to provide a slot, each kwall having a portion 'adjacenttheslot folded inwardly and toward the bottomv portion to lform avert-ical reinforcement for the rail, and means adapted to be secured toa curtain and slidably engaging'the rail at such slot.

12. A curtain retaining device `comprising a member formed into aftube',open at-the top to provide 'a slot and `overhai'iging sui'- t'aces, theside of the member opposite the slot beingdepressed to form ain inwardrib and outwa d recess, and portions of the niembei' Abeing turnedinwardly from the slot Aand engaging the said side'` adjacent the ribtov therein adapted to be engaged byonc of the said members as a detentto hold the curtain in a predetermined position. s

lflln a device rot the classdescribed,L a

curtain and means including rails and nienibers slidably engaging therails for movably retaining the curtain at its opposite edges, ay

reinforcing bar l,associated with the curtain at orne-ar oneof its treeedges, and meansV carried bythe bar 'and' adapted 4to engage a recess inone of the rails for'holdiiig the curtain in closed position.

` i 15. In combination with a curtain adapted "to'close a chamber orrecess, i'i'ieans for movably guidingthe curtain for ii'ioveinent acrossthe recess including arail and means associated with thewall ol' therecess for holding the rail in place, there being a series of meniberson the curtain to slidably engage the rail,fa looped member carried byyone of the rfirst named members anctadapted to be brought intoengagement with a lpart of said closed position.` i

16. In combination with a curtain adapted to close va chamber or recess,means for mov-` `rail `liol'ding*means to 'hold the` curtain in beingmeans on the curtain to slidably eiigage the rail, a reinforcing memberassociated with the 'curtain and extending transversely to the rails,and means carried by the reinforcing member adapted to engage partv ofone side thereof offset fromthe point oit' f1teziid bracket to hold theCurtain in Closed teehment to the curtain, for giving the ver` position.l i tical margin of the curtain a tendency to bend n 17. A closure for ashower beth chamber out of the plane of the curtain in a rdiree-` 6 orthe like, comprising a. curtain, reilsut thel tion :1n-'ay from `thereinforcing member, to 15 top and bottom edge, of the enrtein respeelgrovideawater deleetingmeans. t

tively for inombly supporting the curtain, In testimony whereof, Ihereunto affix my and a Vertical reinforcing member removably signature.l attac-hed near one edge of the curtain, the re- WILLIAM L. DEMING.

10 intere-ing member havingnn enlargement et

